Inhibition of Mouse Ear Edema by Steroidal and Triterpenoid Saponins

Certain steroids and triterpenoids isolated from diverse plant families were known to posses anti-inflammatory activity. In the course of finding new anti-inflammatory natural products, some steroidal and triterpenoid saponins were isolated and evaluated for their anti-inflammatory activity using in vivo mouse ear edema test. At the oral dose of 100 mg/kg, several steroidal saponins and triterpenoid saponins such as hederagenin glycosides showed significant inhibition of ear edema (20∼37% inhibition), though less potent than indomethacin and hydrocortisone.